Clutch and connector for orthopedic appliance



June 2, 1959 S N 2,889,160

CLUTCH AND CONNECTOR FOR ORTHOPEDIC APPLIANCE Filed Oct 23. 1957 'fllEe l M/VE/VFOR KURT B. NELSON AI arney States Patent Ofiice "2,889,160 Patented June 2, 1959 CLUTCH AND CONNECTOR FOR ORTHOPEDIC APPLIANCE Kurt B. Nelson, Monroeville, Pa.

Application October 23, 1957, Serial No. 691,905

6 Claims. (Cl. 287-14) This invention relates to a device which enables persons with paralyzed fingers to manipulate toilet articles, eating implements, etc.

Certain types of paralysis leave the victim with helpless fingers yet with full use of the arms. It is accordingly the object of the invention to provide an attachment which can be wielded by arm motion and is adapted to receive and hold implements or tools of various kinds needed in personal care, eating and the like.

In a preferred embodiment, the invention comprises a drum-shaped body or cup adapted to be secured to an arm brace, having a knob retractably and rotatably carried thereon, actuable by pressure against the users thigh or other part of the body, and a head rotatable with the knob, adapted to receive and engage the handles of toilet articles or implements A locking disc is carried by the rotatable head but is displaceable by the knob, and normally engages a pin fixed in the body.

A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from the following detailed description and explanation which refer to the accompanying drawing illustrating the preferred embodiment.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a view of the palm of a hand having the invention in position thereon;

Fig. 2 is a plan view with a portion in section along the plane of line iii-H of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is an elevation with a portion in section along the plane of line IIIIII of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section taken along the plane of line IV-IV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a full axial section showing the knob depressed for rotation of the head; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective of a handle to be inserted in the head.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the device of my invention, indicated generally at 10, is preferably secured to a hand-encircling strap 11 mounted on a brace (not shown) adapted to be worn on the patients forearm. The device comprises a body 12 of drum or cup shape, having a closure or head 13 rotatable thereon. The head has a circumferential groove 14 therein and radial screws 15 threaded through tapped holes in the body have their inner ends turned down to fit loosely in the groove, so as to permit rotation of the head.

A toothed locking disc 16 is pressed by a spring 17 against the bottom of head 13. In the position shown in Fig. 3, the disc cooperates with a fixed radial pin 18 which prevents rotation thereof. A pair of pins 19 on disc 16 are slidable through holes in head 13 and support a knob 20 in a position spaced thereabove. The head has a transverse slot 21 therethrough adapted to receive the handle 22 of a toilet article of other implement. This handle is special in that it has a beveled end 23 and a hole 24. The hole is positioned and dimensioned to receive a locking pin 25 upstanding centrally on disc 16 and slidably extending through a central hole in head 13 into slot 21.

When knob 20 is depressed as shown in Fig. 5, disc 16 is clear of pin 18 and head 13 may be freely rotated on body 12. At the same time, pin 25 is withdrawn from hole 24, permitting handle 22 to be removed if desired. Thus, to change the angle at which handle 22 extends, or to remove it altogether, it is only necessary for the user to press the knob against his thigh or some other part of the body, using arm motion, in order to be able to change the adjustment of the handle or replace it. When inserting the handle in the head 13, the beveled end thereof engages the rounded end of pin 25 so as to displace it sufficiently to enable the handle to be fully inserted, whereupon spn'ng 17 restores both the disc 16 and pin 25 to normal locking position as shown in Fig. 3.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the invention permits one whose fingers are paralyzed to operate simple tools and implements by arm motion after first inserting the tool handle and adjusting it to the proper angle in the rotatable head. When once adjusted, the handle is held rigidly until the knob is again depressed for removal or a change of angle. Disc 16 and pin 18 constitute a clutch and pin 25 serves to make a releasable connection, both being actuated by spring 17.

Although I have disclosed herein but a preferred embodiment it will be understood that the invention may be modified as to details of construction without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A clutch and connector for an orthopedic appliance comprising a hollow body, a head rotatable thereon, said head having a recess for an implement handle, a locking disc movable axially and rotatable in said body, means constantly urging said disc toward said head, handle-engaging means on said disc entering said head, a knob for operating said disc and means on the disc extending slidably through said Ihead mounting said knob, said means being eccentric to said head thereby preventing relative angular movement between said head and disc.

2. A device as defined by claim 1 characterized by said recess being a transverse slot.

3. A device as defined by claim 1 characterized by said lbangle-engaging means being a stud having a rounded 4. A device as defined by claim 1 characterized by said disc having teeth formed in its periphery and said body having a radial projection adapted to cooperate with said tee 5. A device as defined by claim 1 characterized by said last-mentioned means being a pair of pins fixed to said disc and knob.

6. A device as defined by claim 1 characterized by said head having a circumferential goove therein and said body having inward projections extending loosely into said groove.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,899,656 Wigley et al. Feb. 28, 1933 2,646,037 Cook et a1 July 21, 1953 2,822,551 Alderson Feb. 11, 1958 

